A PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK'S ECONOMIC DATA

A preview of next week's Australian economic data, October 31 to November 4:

RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA BOARD MEETING AND INTEREST RATE DECISION

Due: Tuesday

Period: November

Market forecast: cash rate held at 1.5 per cent.

Last result: The Reserve Bank has cut the cash rate twice this year in quarter percentage point steps to 1.75 per cent in May and 1.5 per cent in August. Futures market pricing puts the chance of a cut in November at one in 25, and the chance of a cut before the end of the year at one in 10.

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AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP PERFOMANCE OF MANUFACTURING INDEX

Due: Tuesday

Period: October

Last result: The index rose 2.9 points to 49.8 in September, but still remained below the 50-point level that indicates the sector is expanding. Factory activity rebounded from its lowest level in more than a year on the back of a recovery in food and beverage manufacturing.

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RP DATA CORE LOGIC HOME VALUE INDEX

Due: Tuesday

Period: October

Last result: Capital city home values continued to rise in September, led by Sydney and Melbourne. The index showed gains of 3.5 per cent in Sydney and 5.0 per cent in Melbourne.

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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS BUILDING APPROVALS

Due: Wednesday

Period: September

Last result: Approvals fell 1.8 per cent in August, but were up 10.1 per cent in the year to August. Approvals for private sector houses fell 1.3 per cent in the month, and the 'other dwellings' category, which includes apartment blocks and townhouses, was down 3.6 per cent.

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AI GROUP PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES INDEX

Due: Thursday

Period: October

Last result: The Australian Industry Group's Performance of Services Index (PSI) rose 3.9 points to 48.9 points in September, remaining below the 50 point level signifying contraction for a second consecutive month.

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ABS INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES

Due: Thursday

Period: September

Last result: The Trade balance remained in the red with a deficit of $2.01 billion in August, following a deficit of $2.10 billion in July. Exports were flat in the month, as were imports.

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ABS RETAIL TRADE

Due: Friday

Period: September

Last result: Retail spending rose 0.4 per cent in August, led by a recovery in department store sales. Total retail spending rose to $25.1 billion in August, from $25.01 billion in July.